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Wish To Study In Canada In 2020? Follow These Three Steps

If you wish to attain a foreign education, it is natural for you to be feeling unclear about your future course of action. However, there is no reason for you to feel disheartened, especially if you had planned to study in Canada.

Canada is one of the most favoured education destinations for Indian students. In fact, in 2019, there were a total of 2,19,855 Indian study permit holders in Canada. It’s not shocking that India is ranked 1 in the list of study permit holders in the country. (Source: immigration.ca) 

The country has once again lived up to its reputation. Due to the pandemic, Canada has put in place many guidelines to aid the interest of international students.

One of these measures that can be particularly beneficial is that Canada has recently stated that it will be accepting partially completed study permit applications in case an individual is unable to complete all the documentation due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will wait for applicants to complete these applications, instead of rejecting the applicant.  (Source: www.cicnews.com/) This is a hugely beneficial step for international students.

Aside from this, Canada has also made another reform that will allow international students to start their Canadian educational program through online platforms and still remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. This is great for students and will prevent them from wasting valuable time. 

However, even if you are unable to arrive in Canada by this fall because of the travel restrictions, many Canadian universities have stated that you can still take up your program online in India and continue the semester on campus once travelling becomes accessible.  Refer to the following links to know more about this. 

Another measure taken by the Canadian government to help international students in the COVID times is that The Government of Canada is providing the Student Work Placement Program with $80 million to support post-secondary students in the country to find paid-work in their field of study.  (source: pm.gc.ca)

To make studying in Canada even more accessible for students, The Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) has relaxed its eligibility requirements to allow more students to qualify for financial support. (source: canada.ca)

Having said that, there are a few steps that you can take to ensure smooth sailing for your dreams. 

The first thing that you should do is check If your university has resumed the application process. If yes, then the most important thing to do would be to complete it as you usually would. This would allow you to attend your classes abroad without losing a year. Many universities in Canada have also extended their application period in order to aid international students. While many universities start their sessions in October, if the situation continues, they are expected to postpone their sessions to prevent international students from missing out. This is why it is recommended to continue the application process. 

Another thing that you must remember is that English language proficiency tests are required for a study permit in Canada. In case you haven’t taken this test already, now would be an excellent time to complete this process even if the application process hasn’t resumed. Most PTE-A centres are now live and are functioning by following social-distancing norms and taking all necessary steps to allow applicants to pursue their dreams in a safe and secure manner.  PTE-A is accepted by 90% of universities and it’s valid for non-SDS visa applications, making it an excellent option for candidates.

To conclude a bonus tip would be to note that if universities start their term later, they will have to be swift in completing the syllabus. This would mean that you would have to be prepared to take up your curriculum at a fast pace. This is why it is essential to consider this extra time as a bonus opportunity to get a headstart in your academic journey. If you have time at hand, you can utilise this time to prepare for your course and learn a few of the basic concepts before actually starting the semester. This will help you adjust better and ease the transition as you start your term.  In the meanwhile, you can use this time wisely and take your PTE-A and set the way for a lucrative career ahead.

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